Line-spacer for type-writing machines.



R. CVRHEA. LlNE SPACER FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES. APPLICATION mio ma.19m. www ocr. Le. me.

llYhitoville, I'

. `a coord ance w1 g UNITED STATES :PATENT oEEioE.

BICI-IARD, C. RHEA., OF WHITE'VILLE.' TENNESSEE, ASSG'NOR TO UNDERWOODTYPE `WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATOLN OF DELAWARE.

LNE-SPACEB. FR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 12, 1.917.

Aapplication tiled January 31, 1916, Serial No. 75.386. Renewed October18, 1916. Serial No. l26,290.

To all whom Air'nmg/ wacom: j

"Ee it known that I, Riemann Ci. Riina, a citizen of the ll'nitedStates, residing at -deman county, and State ot rIfennessee, haveinvented and discovered. certain new and useful vl'1nproveniente .inlane-Spacers tor Type-lriting Machines, of which the following aspeciiication.

The j'neeent in vention relates to .line spacing ineohiilnisin 'tortipe-writing' machines and consists in the eoinllirnititms and arrangements of eleinelits hereinafter described and j'nlrtnnilarly seti'orth .in the ac eo nip a ny in g clail'ns.

A purpose ott-he invention is to provide an adjustable line sjiiaciugdevice which maar be convenientl)r set, for limiting theanguiar turning'rnoven'lent of the platen. in

'th the Spacing desired between the .lines ot the matter to betypewritten.y and wherein. such spacing may be Selected. with anydesired degree of accuracy.

The invention further contemplates the 1 .use ot the device on machineseinjnlojfing dei Cause it to gri tents :tor holding the 'platen againstrturning after the sj'nicing operation or diilring Writing and tothisend a device provided tor throwing the platen holding datenttei'nporai-ily out of operative position when the desired adjustment isnot exactly that olia tooth pitch or an v multiple thereof.

A feature oi? the invention. consists in the provision. of a stoj'i)clutch which is operated by the line-spacing lever as ,the latter coninpletes its througto grip the platen (or a part connected thereto) and.thereby arrest and prevent overthrow of the platen.y The stop clutch maybe connected with the linespaeing lever or platen driver torotate idlyabout the platen axis the platen is rotated bv the driv'er, and may bearrested by a` stop as the platen completes a linespace rotation, saidstop reeaeting on the clutch to 'p the platen and prevent over throwthereof.`

.The stop elutr. may be in the form of an expansion clutch comprisinggripping arms to be expanded into gripping engagement with an annularsurface which may be the inner pwiphery of a flange on the usuallinespare ratchet wheel. One of said gripping arms may be connected tothe slide bar or driver actuated by the line-spacing lever, So that `thestop clutch rotated during the driving Stroke. The other gripping afmmay carry a pivot-ed arn'i which, as the platen, completes a line-spacerotation, strikes a stationary.stop to swing said arin and cause it, bymeans of a earn thereon, to spread the clutch arms to grip said wheel.The driver and platen. are thus arrested. The said stop may beadjustable to var-y the throw of the driver, so that the line-slewingmay be adjusteil to any desired. width. saale and pointer may co'peratewith the adjustable stop to :indicate the width of the line-space forwhich the stop is adjusted.

The driver rnay he 'connected to the platen for rotating it, through anexpansion clutch comprising gripping ali'ins arranged to be expandedinto gripliing engagement with a flange of the linespacing wheel orother part rotating with the platen. The connection. between the drivingelutoh and` said driver may comprise an arm having a pivotal connectionwith the driver .and operable by the latter to expand. the eluteli partsto grip said wheel as the driver eonnnenoes its driving stroke, so thatthe platen is rotated thereby during the driving stroke.

The invention is shownv by way of illustration in the accompanyingdrawings wherein Figure-1 is a. side elevational view of the devicepartly in section.

Fig. 2 is a section at the line 2%2 of Figi.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view partly broken away.

Fig. 4 is a 'liiersjjiective of the friet-ion clutches and theirconnecting arm, one ot the clutches being detached. from said arm toclearly show the structure.

Fig. 5 a. perspective view of the control for the detent'of the platen.pinion.

Fig. 6 a view showing the ratohet detent in. operative position, and

Fig. 7 a .sectional view of the slide securing clamp of the spacingdevice.

Referringto the construction in detail l. designates the platen trarneof an Underwood typewriting machine to which the invention shown asapplied1 and 2 the platen journaled thereon after the usual manner andhaving the hand turning wheel 3. A

adapted. to be operated by the regular speen ing iever through themedium of an eXpanoion clutch that frictionaily engages with the 'innerperiphery of the flange 8 of said ratchet wheel and which will behereinafter referred to as the driving clutch. A second expansionclutch, which may be termed a stop elntch, is also actuated by thespacing lever at the completion of the platen-driving y stroke, to gripthe iange 'Y of the line-space .ratchet ".vheei si,

stroke to rotate the platen. r l

wheel to stop the latter and prevent overthrow thereof.

The driving clutch, which is arranged to frictionally engage with theflange 8 of the comprises a pair of clutch arms or grips and 10 (seeFig. 4) in the form of dislelike members centrally cut away asiat 11, tovtit over vthe platen shaft, said clutch arms being connected at theirlower ends by a pivot permitting the npper ends of the clutch arms to bespread, thereby expanding the clutch to grip the inner peripheralsurface of the lange 8. 0n ie upper and of the clutch member 9 is an armconnected thereto by a pivot 51;

n said arm having a. cam surface 52, which.

when the arm 12 is swung tothe left (Fig. el) about its pivot, bearsagainst-an arm 31 fixed to and proiectinor upwardly beyond the upper endof the clutch member 10. Thus the movement of the arm 12 about its pivoteii'eetive to expam'l the clutch into fric. tional holding engagementwith the linespace wheel 4. The arm 12 has an opening in which is a pinon an arm 14, thereby piretally connecting the latter with the clutchmember 9. The arm 14 is pivoitally mounted on a reciprocating slide barordriver i5by a. screw 16 (see Figs. land The bar supported toreciprocate on bearings 17 and 18 on the platen iframe, and is actuatedby the usual line-spacing lever, which, at each operating stroke,engages the vforward end of said vbar and drives the latter rearwardiyor to the left. (Fig. 1;), and thereby actnates the clutches, ashereinafter ex'ilained. The driver 15 -s'is' returned by a. springconnected at one end to a pin 1i) on the driver, the forward end of 'thespring being anchored to theV platen traine.

Vvi n :he driver 15 commences its driv-v ing stroke, it operates throughthe arm 14 lo swing the Yarm 12 of the driving clutch to lock the latterto the line-space wheel, and thus to the platen. The driver-is thenoperative during the remainder of the driving As the driver 15 returns.,it first swings the arm 12 to the right, that the driving clutchreleased and then returned with the driver to starting position whilethe platen remains at rest. The extent of rotation of the platen, ateach operation ot the driver, length of the stroke of the driver, andthis is reguated by au adjustable stop. The

lin

depends on the latter controls the action of the stop clutch, which isautomatically brought into operation at the completion of the drivingstroke, to grip the line-spacewheel7 arrest the platen, and preventoverthrow of the platen.

The stop clutch comprises clutch parts or grips D and 10aL connected bya pivot 50a, said grips located within the outer flange 7 of the ratchetwheel and adapted to be spread into clutching engagement therewith.Fixed to the member 9 is an arm 12Z1 having an opening 53 to receive a`pivot pin 13a on an arm fixed to the arm 14. The clutch arms 9 and 1 1are spread by means of an arm 31a connected by a. pivot 51a to theclutch member 10*l and having a cam surface 52l to bear against thefixed arm 12a when the arm 31a is swung about its pivot. During thedriving stroke of the driver 15, the

stop clutch 9a, 10L rotates idly with the Aplaten by means of itsconnection through the arms 11 and 55 to'said driver. As the drivercompletes its stroke, the arm 31a engages a stop 30, thereby expandingthe stop clutch 9a, 10a, to grip the lne-space wheel. and at the sametime stopping the rotation of the clutch, so that the driver is arrestedand the platen stopped. The stop clutch is effectual to preventoverthrow of the platen as said clutch is positively arrested, and thegreater the force applied to the driver tending to cause overthrow ofthe platen, the more powerful is the gripping action of the clutch toprevent overthrow.

The stopping device comprises a plate 23 having the stop lug 30 whicharrests the clutch arm 31a. The plate 23 is slidably mounted on a coverplate 21 secured `by screws 22 to the platen frame and forming a l"partthereof. The plate 23 has a4 fingerpiece 21 for adjusting the same. Ascrew 25, fixed in the cover plate 21 and having a knurled nut 2G,passes through a slot 27 in the plate 23 and through an openingin aclamping plate 28 overlying the plate By setting up the nut, the plaie23 is securedy in. adjusted position. The clamping plate 2S carries apointer 29 that indicates the adjustment of the plate 23 by a calemarked on the plate 23.

The ratchet 32 of the \\"^.i 4 is adapted to be engaged by a` detentforholding the latter against' accidental turning and said detent .consistsof an arm 4pivotally mounted on the pin 34 and a roller 35 carried bythe arm engages with the teeth 32 in 'the usual manner. A spring 36normally ac"i on the arm 33 to hold the detentin opive position.

It is sometimes necessary to space the lines of typewriting matter insuch a way that the distance between them mav not agree with the size ofthe teeth of the platen, as for instance en ruled paper, and it istherefore proposed to move the detent temable with porarily fromoperative position. To thisI end a releasing derivi ii is torna-d with aflange li (see hij. :3) littcd on the riin ot the wheel -land said(lange is ri'mstructed with an inturned portion Pif) that works be tweensaid wlieel 4 and the member l-(l on the platen sha'lt 5. A\ cani traehritl is iornicd on the member 57 and engages the grooied roller i?,mounted on the detent arm 33 and said cam track operates to more thedetent from operative position by angularly shitting said lever by thehandle i3. At its respective ends the cam track' fl-l is hooked formingrstops 4i and -l-5 that engage with the roller 42 and determine theangular movements oi the dote-nt coiitrol. The inember if? held inpositioli on the ratchet n'l'ieel by n'ieans of the s;iring-i'nesseddctent arm 35i.

lt is ibvions that those skilled in thil art nini Vari' the. lr-tailso'llv minstruction and rai'meiiu-nts ot parts ivithout departing; trom'the spirit oi the invention. and therefore l do not uish to be limitedto such i'catures ema-pt as may be required by the claims.

Having thus described my invention what .I claim als new and desire toprotect by Il. S. Letters Patent is:

1. In a. p 'x-writcr spacing mechanism the combination oi the platenhaving` ay wheel, a i.' tion clutch comprising a pair of pivotalllyconnected and separable members adapted to engage said Wheel, an armcarried by one of said clutch membersm reciprocablc barl pivotallyconnected to said arm .for actuating the clutch to operate the platen,an arm carried by the other clutch member, and an adjustable stopcoperable with the second clutch arm to limit the turning movement cithe platen, substantially as described.

2. In a type-Writer spacing mechanism the combination oi" the' platenhavingr a flanged wheel, a` friction clutch comprising a pair ofseparable semi-disk members arranged concentric with and adapted toengage-the flange of said Wheel, arms carried by said. disk membersrespectively, a reciprocable barpivotally connected to one of said .armsfor actuatin the clutch to operate the platen, and an a instable stopcoperthe second clutch arm to limit the turning movement of the platen,substantially as described.

3. In a type-Writer spacing mechanism the combination of the platenhaving a double flanged wheel, a pair of friction clutches arrangedconcentric with and adapted to engage the flanges of said Wheelrespectively, a pair ot arms carried by said pair of clutches, areciprocable bar pivotally connected to said arms for actuating theclutches to operate the platen, and an adjustable stop coperable withone of the clutches to limit the turning movement of the platen,subst-.mtiall)y as dcscribial.

el. ln a type-writer spacing mechanism the combination o'l the platenhaving' a. double-llangzjei-l wheel, a pair of 'friction clutchescon'iprishtgT each two separa-ble semid-isk inenibers ada pted to engagethe resper tire [langes ot said wheel, arms carried by said pairs ot'disk men'ibers, a. reciprocablo liar connected to said. arms foractuating' the clutches to operate the platen, a second arm carried byone of said clutches, and an adjustable stop coiil'icrable with saidsecond arm to limit the turning movement oi the platen, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a. type-writer spacing mechanism the col'nbination oi: the platenand the supporting iframe tl'icrctor, means for inni-.irting rotation tothel platen comprising scparablc friction disks, an arm carried by oneof said disks, a plate slidably mounted on the Jframe, a device forsecuring` said plate in ditlcrent adjusted positions, and a stop membercarried by the plate adapted to` engage said dish arm and lock said dishto the platen to limit the turning: movement there-1 of, substantiallyas descriliied.

6. In a type-writer spacingl mechai'iism the combination oil the platenhiiving.,r a. ratchet Wheel, means for imparting rotation to the ratchetWheel, a detent comprising a pivotally mounted :.rm carrying` a rollerengaging with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, means for predeterminingthe turning` movement of the ratchet Wheel, an angular-ly shita-blemember mounted on the ratchet wheel and held thereon by said detent arm,and a cam track carried by said member engaging with said detent arm andoperable to shift the same from operative position. substantially asdescribed.

7. In a type-Writer spacing mechanism the combination of the lplatenhaving a ratchet wheel, means for imparting rotation to the ratchetWheel, a detent comprising a pivotally mounted .arm carrying a rollerengaging -With the. teeth of the ratchet Wheel, means forpre-determining the turning movement of the ratchet Wheel, an angularlyshiftable member mounted on the ratchet Wheel and held thereon by saiddetent arm, a grooved roller mounted on said detent arm, a cam trackcarried by said shiftable member engaging with said grooved roller andoperable to shift the detent arm from operative position, and stopsformed on said cam track for limiting the angular movement of saidshiftable member, substantially as described'.`

8. The combination of a platen, and means to line-space the platen,comprising a manually-operated driver, a clutch-moved.4 idly by thedriver during its driving stroke, and meansto arrest the-movement ofsaid clutch,

to permit the driver to actuate the clutch and Cause-.ltftohold theplaten;

E). The con'ibination with a rotary platen, of a manwally-operated,driver, means con necting the driver with the platen for rotatingr thelatter, a stop clutch connected to the driver to be rotated thereby withthe platen, a clntch-operatiin;l device carried with the clutch and.movable relatively thereto to actuate the clutch,I and a stop in thepath of said device to arrest it and canse said relative movement,thereby causingthe clutch to grip the platen or a part rotatingtherewith, and thus arrest the platen and driver.

10. lhecombination With a rota ry platen, of a manually-operated driver,means conneeting the driver with the platen for rotat ing the latter, astop clutch connected to the driver to be rotated 'thereby with theplaten, a clutch-operating,` device carried with the clutch andn'iovablc relatively thereto to ao tirate the clutch, a stop in the pathoi? said device to arrest it and cause said relative move ment, therebycausing the clutch to grip the platen or a part rotatingl therewith, andthus arrest the platen and dri\ ir, said stop adjustable to vary thestop position of 'the elutclnand a scale and pointer relativelyadlinstable by the adjustment of the stop to indiente 'the distancethrough which the platen will be rotated by an operation of the driver.

11. InI a t pewriting machine, tlie eombii nation with a rotary platen,of a reciprocating driver, means connecting the driver with the platenfor rotating the latter, va stop clutch comprising gripping arms, meanspron viding an annular surface rotatable with the platen and with whichsaid arms may be brought into gripping engagement, one of said armsconnected With the driver to cause the clutch to oscillate as the driverreeipro Cates, a el'utcli-operatin'g device carried .by the othergripping arm and operable by a movement relative thereto, to canse saidarms to grip said surface, and a stop in the path of saidclutch-operating device to arrest it, and thereby actnate the clutchtohold the' platen and arrest the driver.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotary platen, of areciprocating driver, means connecting the driver with the vplaten forrotating the latter, a stop clutch eolnprisinf.,1r gripping arms, meanspr'r viding an annular surface rotatable with the platen and with whichsaid arms may be brought into 'gripping engagement, one of said armsconnected with the driver to cause the clutch to oscillate as the driverreeiprocafes, a elutchoperati.np, device carried by the other grippingarm and operable by a move ment relative thereto, to cause s. -d arms togrip said surface, a stop in the path of said clutch-operating device toarrest it, and thereby acttiate the clutch to hold the. platen andarrest the driver, an adjusting plate carrying said stop and adj nstableto vary the position of said'lstop, a thumb screw to clamp said Lacona-iplate in adjusted' position, a scale on said plate, and a pointer alongwhich the scale moves as the plate W wird, to indicate the length ofline-space for which said stop is adjusted.

13. The combination with a rotary pla len, oli' a niannally-operateddriver for rotating the platen step by step, a. clutch comprisinggripping arms, a clntclrlioiding member conn nceted to rotate with theplaten, and having an annular flange with which. the clutch arms areexpansible into gripping ei'igagement, one ol? said arms connected tothe driver to canse the latter to oscillate the clnteh about the platenaxis thedriver reciprocates, a. cam pivoted on the other gripping and asi op in 'the path oi" said com ope .ble as the clutch is rotated by'the ri said cam, 'thereby ern ment of the cam and itf by the clutchopera-imi to lar flange, and there platen.

The combine oit line-:nach enanisin coen; ciprocaiing driver, anex'iarf'ion clair nected with the driver to oseillate aboni'- the platenaxis as -the driver is reciprocated, and means to actuate said clutch.the driver completes a driving stroke, to canse the clutch to hold theplaten., and thereby arrest the driver and platen.

15. The combination with a rotary platen, of line-spaeing mechanismcomprising a ciprocatinadriver, an expansion clntcli eonnected with thedriver to esciliate about the platen axis as v:he driver isreciprocated, and a stop to arrest the clutch and throw it into grippingengagement with parl'. "otati'ngg with the platen, to the and driver.

16. The combination with a rotary platen, of ailine-space ratchet wheelcomprising` an annular flange, a reciprocating driver for eiffeetingline-space rotations of the platen, stop clutch comprising pivotallyconnected grilil'iing arms, one of iv lich is coni'iected to the driverto oscillate the clutch as the driver reciproeates, as clutch actuatorcarried by lthe clutch, and a stop in the path ot said actuator toarrest it at the con'ipleton of a driving" stroke, and thereby canse itto expand the clutch arms to grip said flange and arrest the platen.

' 17. The combination with a rotary platen, of a line-spa@n ratchetwheel comprising an annular flange, a reciprocating driver foreffectingline-space rotations of the platen, a stop clutch comprisingpivotally connected gripping arms, one of which is connected to thedriver to'osillate the clutch as the driver reeiprocates, a clutch.actuator carried by the clutch, a 1stop in the path of said actuator toarrest 'it at the completion of a driving Stroke, andthereby cause it toexpand the and thereby arrest the platen and clutch arms to grip saidflange and arrest the platen, a` detent coperating with said linespacewheel to hold it at line-space positions, determined by rthe ratchetteeth on said Wheel, means for holding the detent off tlie ratchetwheel, andfmeans to adjust said stop for arresting the platen atpositions inter nected thereto to drive theplaten daring the Ainoved.idly therewith inovenient of the driver in one direction, a

lseeoinl rlntcli connected to vbe moved idly about the driver as thelatter is nioved in sa id direction, and nieansl to arrest said secondclutch and actuate it: to hold the platen, and thereby arrest the platenand driver, said clutches both inovabie idly about the platen anis inthe reverse direction and thereby returnable with the driver toStartinl; position while the yplaten remains at rest.

2t). 'lhe combination with a rotary platen, ot a mannaily-operateddriver, a driving clutch actuated thereby and a holding clutch actuatedby to arrest the platen.

2l. The combination with a rotary platen, of a reciprocating,manually-operated the driver driver, a driving clutch, a connectionbetween said clutcli and driver for actuating the clutch as the drivercommences its driving stroke, to connect the clutch and platen, andcanse the platen to be rotated by the holding clutch connected to' thedriver to be during the driving stroke, and a stop operable t0 arrestthe holding clutch and actnate it to grip the platen and arrest thelatter.

22. The combination with a rotary platen, ot a niannaily-operatedreciprocating driver,

stroke, to hold the platen,

of a reciprocating driver,

to rotate the platen,

clutch during the driving stroke, a

my hand and seal at a Vdrivin clutch anda holdin clutch both connectetothe driver to oscillDate about the platen axis'as' the driverreciprocates, the connection of the driver with the driving clutch beinoperablel to canse the vlatter to drive the p aten as the driver movesin one direction, .and means to actuate the holding clutch as the drivercompletes its driving.

, said holding clutch being normally disconnected from the platen duringits oscillation in both direetions.

vThe combination with a rot-ary platen, means providing an annularclutch-holding surface rotatable with the platen, Ian expansionehitchconr: prising gripping arms expansible into grip ping engagementwith said snrfaceand a connection between said driver and clutch `foroperating the latter as the driver coinmences its driving stroke toconnect the clutch with the kplaten and canse the clutch to iotatetheplaten during the remainder of' the driving stroke, matically releasedfrom the platen and returned with tl'ie driver.

Q4. The combination with a rotary platen,

of an expansion clutch comprising arcsliaped gri pspivotally connectedat one end,

,nieans providing an aniinlar gripping siirface into engagement withwhich said grips are expansible, a cain carried by one of said.

grips and operable by a inovenient relative` thereto to spread saidgrips int-o gripping engagement with said surface, and a reciproeatingdriver connected to said cani for acta.- atino tliccliitch when thedriver commences its driving stroke and causing the clutch to rotate theplaten dui-in the driving stroke, said cani operated by tlie driver torelease the clutch as stroke and return the clutch with the driver tostarting position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set Whiteville, Tennessee, this 21stday of January, A. D. nineteen hun dredl and sixteen. l

RICHARD C. itl-IEA. ['L. a] `Vitiiesses W. C. Nanni-IAM,

T. R. Haznnwoon.

said clutch being antof the driver commences its return

